Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series, vol. 2 - 1819.djvu/289

Rh I care to be fashed wi' less than thanks—I never could bide them."

"Faith, Mr Balderstone, ye suld hae been fashed wi' few o' mine," said the downright man of staves and hoops, "if I had only your glide-will to thank je for—I suld e'en hae set the ause, and the wild-deukes, and the runlet of sack, to balance that account. Gude-will, man, is a geizen'd tub, that hands in nae liquor—but gude deed's like the cask, tight, round, and sound, that will hand liquor for the king."

"Have ye no heard of our letter," said the mother-in-law, "making John the Queen's cooper for certain?—and scarce a chield that had ever hammered gird upon tub but was applying for it?"

"Have I heard!!!" said Caleb, (who now found how the wind set,) with an accent of strong contempt at the doubt expressed—"Have I heard, quo' she!!!"—and as he spoke, he changed his shambling, skulking, dodging pace, into a manly and authoritative step, re-adjusted his cocked hat, and